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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

In thinking that this is benefit fraud?

143 replies

Cbeebiesmum · 28/02/2015 16:38

Hi I'll try and keep it short, but my friend, I say friend but she doesn't feel like one at the minute. Basically her and her partner are constantly splitting up an then getting back together, they have three children together and I've had a feeling for some time that they've been fiddling the system. Anyway they both own a house together but she moved out a year ago into smaller rented accommodation, he moved back to his fathers house and they got someone in to rent their house.

My fronds was getting a substantial amount in housing benefit and has now been offered a council house which she moves into next week. The amount of HB will cover all of her rent, the tenant will be paying their mortgage and her "ex" is living completely rent free at his fathers!

Now correct me if I'm wrong but I didn't think people were entitled to claim housing benefit on a rented property if they already owned a property? But one of our mutual friends has said that you can if you can prove your house is in negative equity therefore you are unable to sell, does anyone know if this is right?

I'm only asking as I think she is taking the absolute pee! She is very much still in a relationship with the father of her children, she still sees him everyday plus they go on family holidays and days out yet they conveniently live apart.They have been on and off for over 10 years and she has always been out for what se can get when it comes to benefits, ie credibly spacing her children apart so she didn't have to come off income support and I believe what they're doing is completely wrong, an I don't know how much longer I can continue to be around her without saying something x

OP posts:
Thesuperswimmingdolphin · 28/02/2015 17:06

Benefit fraud IS everybody's business. This woman is stealing from the state - and by doing so she will make it harder for those who come in genuine need to get what they require. I repeat, she belongs in prison. She is a thief.

glamourousgranny42 · 28/02/2015 17:07

You are making a lot of assumptions. If the house is in negative equity and she can't sell it she still has a mortgage to pay. If she's a SAHM she's not working and won't get any help towards the mortgage. Maybe the rent just covers that. Sounds like it's a bit of a millstone. You don't sound like a very nice friend.

Viviennemary · 28/02/2015 17:08

If she already owns a house she isn't entitled to a council house AFAIK. I would report it if you are pretty sure. Because she is depriving a homeless family of a house. Of course benefit fraud is everyone's business. It's depriving the needy through sheer greed and theft of public money.

SirChenjin · 28/02/2015 17:10

The OP doesn't seem 'obsessed' with her - what an odd thing to say Hmm

I'd do what amother said. Benefit fraud is theft.

Original poster
Cbeebiesmum · 28/02/2015 17:11

Yes, of course I must be obsessed with her just because I don't agree with what she is doing, think what you like anyway.

OP posts:
SirChenjin · 28/02/2015 17:13

Obsessed is one of those stock phrases on these threads cbeebies - I'm only surprised it didn't appear within the first couple of posts

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 28/02/2015 17:13

Honestly OP, your last post sounds a bit spiteful. I agree that benefits fraud is something people shouldn't necessarily turn a blind eye to, but I'm not sure you are in possession of the facts you believe yourself to be.

You initially called her a friend and then go on to make it patently clear that you don't like her. Are you just wanting the go ahead to grass someone up who you don't like?

Thesuperswimmingdolphin · 28/02/2015 17:13

You don't get shot if you default on your mortgage you know! If you can't afford to pay it then you will have to lost that house and trash your credit rating, Then off you trot and rent a new home or ask the council to house you because you have no home. You can then claim HB etc.
What you can't do is rent out your ASSET so that it can continue to appreciate for you whilst being housed by the state.
I don't know why people are defending this thief. She belongs in prison and the Op would be doing her a favour by reporting her now. In a few years the amount she will owe the state is huge.

BTW - sahms can go back to work. If they can be arsed to obviously. Much easier to sit at home claiming benefits whilst still shagging your partner and retaining an asset.

Dawndonnaagain · 28/02/2015 17:33

As usual all the judgemental biddies come out of the woodwork. A woman nobody bar op has met, is being called a thief, whilst nobody, including op knows the exact financial circumstances of this woman. In fact nobody other than the woman, perhaps her partner, and gosh, you never know the hb people may even be aware too.
Obviously the subject is up for discussion, but the kangaroo court is at best, undignified.

YNK · 28/02/2015 17:34

Nothing irks me more than benefit fraud op, however......

No one is obliged to remain living with someone if it's not working. Your friend and her DP have tried several times. To be classed as cohabiting for benefit purposes, a couple has to live together at least 3 night a week. Your friend does not live with her husband but it's nice that they can continue to be close as a family.

If the house they own is in neg equity (ie they cannot sell) and provides a rental income, that will be deducted from the claimants benefit once the mortgage is paid. You do not say whose name is on the mortgage so you cannot know if this applies to your friend or not.

So, yes op, you do sound unreasonable, bitter and stalkery tbh.

SunnyBaudelaire · 28/02/2015 17:39

oh really who cares? everyone is struggling these days.

SunnyBaudelaire · 28/02/2015 17:42

" She belongs in prison"
and the above is just shocking, do people really think like that?

SirChenjin · 28/02/2015 17:52

Everyone is struggling (well, not everyone..). Not everyone thieves from the state or elsewhere though - you've got to be a certain kind of person to do that.

SunnyBaudelaire · 28/02/2015 17:54

well that may be true sirchenjin but i do not see people getting so aereated about thieving MPs

Sparrowlegs248 · 28/02/2015 17:54

You can claim Hb and own a house. You may not be able to afford to live in your own house (pay a mortgage on benefits) You might have had it in the market for a year and it hasn't sold. I work for the local authority and deal with this sort of thing often.

Original poster
Cbeebiesmum · 28/02/2015 17:57

Actually I've already said earlier that the mortgage is in BOTH names! Oh and Sunnybaudelaire, how can you "oh who cares, everyone is struggling" are you serious? Me and my dh struggle but we don't bloody lie to our friends and family and to the goverment pretending that we are separated in order to claims thousands of pounds we are not entitled to! I have morals and a bit of dignity, shame you cannot say the same eh.

OP posts:
SirChenjin · 28/02/2015 17:58

Really? I think people have been very pissed off by thieving MPs and bankers.

Notta - how long can you claim HB on a council house while you're renting out the house you own? Surely there is a time limit?

SunnyBaudelaire · 28/02/2015 17:59

lol "dignity" really have you? Is that why you are on a public forum spreading malicious gossip about someone you do not even like?
yes very dignified.

SunnyBaudelaire · 28/02/2015 18:01

"shame you cannot say the same eh."
and do you know anything about my life then OP? No I thought not. Lucky for me that I do not know you or you might be spreading malicious shyte about me as well.

Sparrowlegs248 · 28/02/2015 18:01

Also, it is possible to be allocated a council/HA property while owning a different property. Each LA will have its own housing allocations policy. Ours has only recently changed to exclude home owners. Many still include them.

Im astounded at the amount of ignorance on this thread. Why post if you actually don't know anything about housing or benefits?

Original poster
Cbeebiesmum · 28/02/2015 18:02

But if you can't afford to pay a mortgage on benefits then don't bloody get one in the first place. And before anyone jumps on me yes, I do realise that plenty of hard working people are made redundant and therefore struggle to pay their mortgages but some decide to go down another route and that route usually doesn't involve going straight into rented accommodation whilst getting a tenant in to effectively pay their mortgage whilst they get their rent paid in full and it certainly isn't screwing the bloody system!

OP posts:
PtolemysNeedle · 28/02/2015 18:02

I think people who steal or commit fraud over significant amounts of money deserve to be in prison, yes Sunny.

I'd be interested to know if the people who are telling OP she shouldn't be concerned are claiming benefits themselves.

kilmuir · 28/02/2015 18:04

report them and let the tax office sort it. tough she should not be trying to get one over on the tax payer

SirChenjin · 28/02/2015 18:04

Notta - not sure if you saw my question. How long can you claim HB on a council house while you're renting out the house you own? At what point in the HB on your council house withdrawn? Presumably the expectation is that your asset will be sold to remove the need for the state to pay your rent indefinitely?

Sparrowlegs248 · 28/02/2015 18:04

Sirchenjin No time limit that I know of. I was dealing with a case this week - she and two children are moving to their 3rd private rented property and are claiming HB. She has been renting two owned properties out for 6 - 7 years and has finally managed to sell oneof them.

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